Chapter 969: The Reprimand

In any case, Commandant Wu had no evidence. Saying humans could command Yin Serpents? Heh, what a joke. Something no one had managed in thousands of years, why would Commandant Wu dare say that He Lingchuan, a wealthy outsider, could pull it off? "Adapting to the times and following the flow, heh, that is very well said." Commandant Wu swallowed his anger and simply changed his approach, "Does your master have a way to repel the Yin Serpents and keep the ships safe?"

"The He family fleet frequently traverses the archipelago and has never been attacked by Yin Serpents; it is not merely a matter of luck." Ding Zuodong smiled, "My master says he is willing to gift this method to a good neighbor, so that from now on, we may prosper together in harmony."

Since it is called "good neighbor," the relationship must be good.

How can a relationship be good? Through cooperation.

If one keeps making things difficult for the Yangshan Archipelago like Commandant Wu is doing now, then one can forget about keeping one's own ships safe.

Thinking of those three fine ships that were scuttled, Commandant Wu felt as if his heart were being cut by a knife, yet he still had to cough lightly: "Commandant Zhao, you take Steward Ding and make another trip. They have already seriously rectified their issues many times and shown great sincerity; I hope the results of this inspection will be satisfactory to all."

"Yes." Commandant Zhao immediately grasped the deeper meaning of "satisfactory to all."

Ding Zuodong, however, went a step further: "Lord Wu, we plan to open several shops in Daofeng Port to sell the many specialties of the Yangshan Archipelago. On the day of the opening, we would like to invite you to grace us with your presence."

Grace them with his presence? The man surnamed He even wanted to invite him to stand on their stage? Commandant Wu could not help but let out a long breath before saying: "Very well, very well, I will certainly go take a look when I have time."

Ding Zuodong bowed again with a smile before leaving with Commandant Zhao.

Once their footsteps vanished beyond the corridor, Commandant Wu slammed a fist onto the table: "Too bullying!"

His ships were the ones sunk by these people, and he still had to open wide the doors of convenience for them?

The man surnamed He opens a shop, and even asks him to go and show support?

If this can be endured, what cannot!

Commandant Wu subconsciously wanted to smash something, only to remember that his favorite cup had just been broken.

Half an hour later, Commandant Zhao returned to report:

"The permits have been issued, including all the shop permits for the Yangshan Archipelago in Daofeng Port."

Commandant Wu glared at him: "What about the most critical thing?"

The most critical thing? Commandant Zhao was startled before saying: "Ding Zuodong said the shops are already renovated and will open soon, and he asks you..."

Commandant Wu slapped the table in a rage: "Who cares when he opens! The Yin Serpents won't attack my ships again, will they?"

Commandant Zhao gave a start: "Yes, yes, I asked! Ding Zuodong said the Yin Serpents are unreasonable, but the He family fleet has already found a safe route. As long as one sails along this route, passing ships will not encounter Yin Serpent attacks."

"A route?" Commandant Wu's heart stirred.

Commandant Zhao dipped his finger in water and drew a rough sketch on the table to illustrate. Upon seeing it, Commandant Wu could not help but press his temples, so angry he laughed out loud:

"Doesn't this all pass through the Yangshan Archipelago?!"

This so-called route almost hugged the several islands newly developed by the Yangshan Archipelago! If passing ships all had to pass by their supply docks and their islands, wouldn't that just be sending people to their islands?

Merchants and sailors coming and going, eating, staying, and browsing—isn't that all traffic?

The man surnamed He's abacus was even more precise than his! Commandant Zhao asked in a low voice: "So, shall we take this route?"

"Take it!" Commandant Wu squeezed the words through his teeth, "All ships entering and leaving the port are to switch to this route!"

In any case, whether the Yin Serpents attack or not is up to the man surnamed He; if one wants to keep the ships safe and sound, one must follow the route prescribed by He Lingchuan. Even if the man surnamed He said someone must stand at the bow and do a hula dance for the Yin Serpents, Commandant Wu would have no choice but to comply.

Besides, this new route was not exactly a detour; it was just that he was unwilling to accept it.

The news of the Wu family's cargo ships changing routes to avoid Yin Serpents would soon spread throughout Daofeng Port via gossiping boatmen and sailors. Commandant Wu knew this news could not be hidden at all.

Since the Wu family's ships were setting the example, other passenger and cargo ships would soon follow suit.

After all, who wouldn't want to eliminate the hidden danger of Yin Serpents destroying ships and harming people? Sigh, the man surnamed He had made a huge profit this time. Commandant Wu could already imagine the route in front of the Yangshan Archipelago soon becoming bustling with traffic, with both passengers and cargo flourishing.

Because of the existence of pirates and Yin Serpents, large ships on the main route previously did not want to stop at the Yangshan Archipelago unless they encountered strong winds or heavy fog; usually, it was just local small and medium vessels occasionally stopping for supplies, and Lei Ni's little shack was never full.

Now this was brilliant; Commandant Wu had personally advertised for the Yangshan Archipelago with his own large ships, and the key was that he had picked this fight himself—he had lost in both reason and sentiment.

Lost to the other party's strategy of "softening then striking."

Commandant Wu took a memorial and a letter from the table and handed them to Commandant Zhao; the letter had already been sealed with red wax.

His hand was shaking slightly; it was from anger.

Commandant Zhao looked, and the last few strokes of the writing on the envelope were not yet dry.

"Present the memorial and the bribe money to the Royal Court together; a malicious neighbor has appeared in Daofeng Port, suspected of controlling Yin Serpents to attack passing merchant ships—this matter must be reported. Additionally, send this letter to Imperial Consort Yu."

As it happened, the "Green Fish" that was scuttled by the Yin Serpents was actually a gift to Commandant Wu from Imperial Consort Yu. The spices, sweet tea, and condensed fragrance dew carried on the ship were originally meant to be sent to the palace after landing, including a small token of his own for Imperial Consort Yu; now, it had all gone down the drain.

Commandant Wu naturally had to report this loss to Imperial Consort Yu.

However, just then, a minor official from the Shipping Office ran in, panting as he shouted: "My lord, my lord! Min Tianxi from the Yangshan Archipelago reports that the Baoji and two other sunken ships have been found in the inner bay of the West Gorge, all run aground on the beach; perhaps they were carried there by the ocean currents."

His ships! Commandant Wu stood up abruptly: "Found? Is the damage severe?"

All three ships were attacked near the West Gorge Bay; it seemed plausible they were carried by undercurrents to the nearby inner bay. But Commandant Wu understood immediately whose handiwork this was.

He had just issued the permit here, and Min Tianxi reported it there; the timing was calculated with precision.

"Specialists have already rushed over to inspect them."

Three hours later.

Just as Commandant Wu was waiting in a state of burning anxiety, the shipwright from the Shipping Office returned from White Dolphin Bay to report the damage.

The hulls all had several holes and needed repairs.

The good news was that the ship bodies had no structural damage and would be usable after repairs; the bad news was that it would take a lot of time to fix them, and these three ships would not make it in time for this year's autumn harvest season.

Hearing this, although Commandant Wu had expected it, he let out a long sigh of relief, his hanging heart finally settling.

The ships were found, and they could be used once repaired. Clearly, this was the positive feedback the other party gave him after he stopped making things difficult for the Yangshan Archipelago.

As for the cargo on the ships, it was basically all gone; the shipwright only found scattered items, such as a few sets of cosmetics and a dozen bottles of condensed fragrance dew, which were well-sealed and had not taken on water.

Since the ships had sunk, what was strange about most of the cargo being gone? What strange things hadn't happened on the seabed?

(End of chapter)